ZetaTalk: Moons of Mars
Note: written on Oct 15, 1996

It is rumored that one of the moons of Mars, Phobos, is inhabited by the giant hominoids from the 12th Planet, and this rumor is correct. They have burrowed into
the interior of this relatively small moon to conduct a mining operation, but this is not the only reason. As we have mentioned, they ruined the surface of Mars with
these mining operations. What thin atmosphere Mars had essentially disappeared when the water was diverted into underground caverns, cooling the surface until
the remaining water froze. Mining the caverns of Phobos allows these visitors several advantages:

They remain out of sight of Earth telescopes, and thus hope to evade interference of visits from curious humans.

Atmosphere and temperature control is easier within an enclosed space.

The moon's surface affords a thick and almost impermeable shield from bombardment from space trash such as dust and small meteors, which would
continually pepper them if they remained on the surface of Mars.

What occurs when one of NASA's probes drifts close to this moon? Monitoring equipment stationed on the surface of Phobos by these visitors alerts them to the
approach of something other than space trash. Not wanting to be observed or to become the object of curiosity, the giant hominoids simply put the eye out of the
probe. This is done with a laser, the same mechanism they use to send signals to one another at great distances but devastating to delicate electronic equipment at
close range. Send a probe to Phobos and oops, the probe stops working! Any attempt to fly a manned shuttle to Phobos to explore the operation would also meet
with disaster and death, and such an attempt is therefore ill advised.